A6 a non-starter - Immobilizer!!!

[Shaka1976]

Car unlocks on key fob, ignition on, immobilizer light out, turn key and NOTHING!!! Battery is charged, checked on VAG-COM and got a 17978 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer. Any ideas on how to clear this?

p.s. Checked Wiki and tried the cold-booting and still nothing:zx11:

[shark_90]

That doesn't sound right. If it is the factory immobiliser that's cutting in then the immobiliser light would flash and the car would start but immediately cut out. Doesn't it turn over at all?

[cheemiebhoy]

I am having the exact same problem with my 1999 A4 B5 2.5 TDi V6. Was driving to the airport one morning and she just died!

[VAGMAN54]

does the car turn over and not start or just doesnt turn over ?

[cheemiebhoy]

It turns over but doesn't start.

[bearthebruce]

That should not be caused by immobilizer. With immobilizer, the car should turn over, start, run a few seconds and shut down. If it does not start at all, I'd be looking for the standard things - no spark, fuel, air.

[Theresias]

Pretty much with Bruce on this one, to be certain an Auto-Scan would be a good start.

[cheemiebhoy]

We have checked the engine, checked relays and checked the ignition coil. Is it possible the immobiliser has given up the ghost? Where is the actual immobiliser located?

This was the first reading i had from vag-com after the problem arose:

Address 01: Engine
Controller: 8D0 907 401 N
Component: 2.5l/4VTEDC 0000SG D65
Coding: 02002
Shop #: WSC 06335
4 Faults Found:
17978 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer
P1570 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
37-00 - Faulty
01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
49-00 - No Communications
01268 - Quantity Adjuster (N146)
37-00 - Faulty
Readiness: N/A

The codes were then cleared an now when i try to run vag-com it tells me there are too many errors to continue!

[Theresias]

Sorry, but that is NOT an Auto-Scan. It's just what the Engine Control Module has stored and specifically that immobilizer code is useless without seeing what all the other modules in the car have to say. What you need to do is VCDS > Auto-Scan and then let it do its thing...

However, just based on these codes its already obvious what your problem is and Bruce was fully right that the immo has really nothing to do with your problems. Not sure why you would waste time checking relays and I also wonder where in that car you would find ignition coils... It's a diesel!

[cheemiebhoy]

By the ignition coil i meant the loose wire to the ignition barrel problem that many people have had.


If the problem is SO obvious could you just please tell me what it is an how i can fix it?


If i knew what the problem was i wouldn't need to check things like relays etc.


This is the full scan results after the problem arose:



VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-US


Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,17,25,35,45,55,56

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine
Controller: 8D0 907 401 N
Component: 2.5l/4VTEDC 0000SG D65
Coding: 02002
Shop #: WSC 06335
4 Faults Found:
17978 - Engine Start Blocked by Immobilizer
P1570 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
37-00 - Faulty
01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
49-00 - No Communications
01268 - Quantity Adjuster (N146)
37-00 - Faulty
Readiness: N/A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Controller: 8E0 614 111 AH
Component: ABS/ASR 5.3 FRONT D10
Coding: 00012
Shop #: WSC 06435
1 Fault Found:
01203 - Electrical Connection between ABS and Instrument Cluster
03-10 - No Signal - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC
Controller: 8D ö8
Note: Excessive Comm Errors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skipping Address 15-Airbags

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments
Controller: 8D0 920 980
Component: B5-KOMBIINSTR. VDO D09
Coding: 00460
Shop #: WSC 00000
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ AUZ7Z0X1200316
No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 25: Immobilizer
Controller: Bit teA dre ss
Component: e 17 eingeben
No Faults Found
or DTCs not supported by controller
or a communication error ocurred

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 35: Centr. Locks
Controller: 8D0 862 257 E
Component: CV-Pump, Alarm, RC D13
Coding: 13130
Shop #: WSC 06335
6 Faults Found:
01367 - Central Locking Pump Run Time Exceeded (Likely Leak)
35-00 - -
01371 - Alarm triggered by Door Contact Switch: Driver's Side
35-00 - -
01370 - Alarm triggered by Interior Monitoring
35-00 - -
01365 - Lock/Unlock Switch: Interior
29-00 - Short to Ground
00991 - Interior Lights
28-00 - Short to B+
01134 - Alarm Horn (H12)
49-00 - No Communications

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 45: Inter. Monitor
Controller: 4B0 951 173
Component: Innenraumueberw. D03
Coding: 00101
Shop #: WSC 06335
No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio
Controller:
Note: Excessive Comm Errors

End --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Theresias]

01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
37-00 - Faulty
01318 - Control Module for Injection Pump (J399)
49-00 - No Communications
01268 - Quantity Adjuster (N146)
37-00 - Faulty

Thats your problem... If you don't know what the codes mean and don't have the necessary resources I suggest you'll leave this to somebody who is doing this for a living and knows what they are doing. ;)

[kenney]

The translation of the fault code is, you need to check the wiring to the pump and if you find no fault(your injection pump is buggered)

[cheemiebhoy]

Thank you kenney your help is greatly appreciated.

As for you TheresiASS, you were about as much help as a fart in a space suit!!!

I was under the impression that the whole point of this forum was to help people who have problems with their vehicle, people like me who would prefer not to have to pay large sums of money to expensive garages for information that can be obtained and shared here. Your condisending tone is very rude and insulting!

If you don't have the mentality to help a fellow vw/audi forum member in need i suggest you leave it to somebody who knows how to!!! ;)

[cheemiebhoy]

I have tested the pump and it is working.



I cleared the previous codes and ran another scan and here are the results:



VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-US


Chassis Type: 8D - Audi A4 B5
Scan: 01,02,03,08,15,17,25,35,45,55,56

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 01: Engine
Controller:
Note: Excessive Comm Errors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 03: ABS Brakes
Controller: 8E0 614 111 AH
Component: ABS/ASR 5.3 FRONT D10
Coding: 00012
Shop #: WSC 06435
No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 08: Auto HVAC
Controller: ö 8D0
Note: Excessive Comm Errors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skipping Address 15-Airbags

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 17: Instruments
Controller: 8D0 920 980
Component: B5-KOMBIINSTR. VDO D09
Coding: 00460
Shop #: WSC 00000
ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ AUZ7Z0X1200316
1 Fault Found:
00771 - Fuel Level Sensor (G)
30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 25: Immobilizer
Controller: Bit teA dre ss
Component: e 17 eingeben
No Faults Found
or DTCs not supported by controller
or a communication error ocurred

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 35: Centr. Locks
Controller: 8D0 862 257 E
Component: CV-Pump, Alarm, RC D13
Coding: 13130
Shop #: WSC 06335
6 Faults Found:
01367 - Central Locking Pump Run Time Exceeded (Likely Leak)
35-00 - -
01371 - Alarm triggered by Door Contact Switch: Driver's Side
35-00 - -
01370 - Alarm triggered by Interior Monitoring
35-00 - -
01365 - Lock/Unlock Switch: Interior
29-00 - Short to Ground
00991 - Interior Lights
28-00 - Short to B+
01134 - Alarm Horn (H12)
49-00 - No Communications

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 45: Inter. Monitor
Controller: 4B0 951 173
Component: Innenraumueberw. D03
Coding: 00101
Shop #: WSC 06335
No fault code found.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio
Controller:
Note: Excessive Comm Errors

End --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[krautmender]

I repaired a Polo last week with a similar problem, turned out to be the key reader on the ignition barrell. Loose connection on one of its connectors!

[krautmender]

One other thing you may have to use adaption in instruments to check that the ECU and key are showing 1 in their respected boxes and not zero!

[kenney]

The immobilizer has nothing to do with the fault code you got from engine management. with an immo problem the engine will start only to stop again after a few seconds,With the code you had from the injection pump,the engine will not start at all.Reading the immo diagnosis (No Faults Found or DTCs not supported by controlleror a communication error ocurred)says what it means

[bearthebruce]

All right. You may have a problem with the immo but it is not the reason it is not turning over. If it cranks and will not start, you have other problems.

We have already told you that the immo block by design permits the engine to start and then it shuts down. If you don't believe us, check it out in any VW factory repair manual or better yet in the owner's manual.

You have told us it will not fire off. So, you have a fuel, air or ignition problem. My guess is you have an electrical problem that is not allowing fuel to flow or ignition to occur. The autoscan suggests you have several problems in the electrical system. The fact that the injection pump is showing problems seems to me to be source of the no start.

Good luck.

[bearthebruce]

And now I see that in your latest scan you have excessive comm errors with the ECU. Could be your ECU is fried or the aftermarket interface you are using is confusing the whole issue. Maybe your best bet would be to find someone near you with a genuine Ross-Tech interface and VCDS version 908 to run a scan for you.

If the ECU is still giving excessive errors then, you may have a bad controller. As said in my last post, with all the electrical problems your scans are showing, and the fact that they are showing inconsistently, something very screwy is going on. Bad grounds? Bad power to the ECU? Hard to say from across the pond.

[cheemiebhoy]

Finally got to the heart of the problem! The EDC on the fuel injector pump was fried. I found a company online, www.dieselpumprepairs.com, that fixed the part for £350 which i thought was resonable compared to £800 for a new pump plus cost of installation.

Still working to put here together (MOT due next month) but at least she is running again.

Thanks for your help and if anyone else needs to ask any questions please feel free.